Have You Ever Said "I've Seen That Too" Without Actually Watching It? You Might Have FOPO Syndrome

"Excessive Vigilance Leads to Fear of Others' Judgments"
The Importance of Having a Clear Sense of Purpose

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Psychologist Michael Gervais has introduced the concept of 'FOPO' (Fear of Other People's Opinions), which refers to the fear of what others think. While it is human nature to care about others' opinions, Gervais argues that when this becomes excessive, such fear can dominate daily life, become increasingly harmful, and ultimately limit human potential.

On June 23 (local time), the New York Post introduced this concept by psychologist Michael Gervais. This idea, which was also featured in Forbes in February of last year, explains that worrying about "what people think of us" has become an irrational, unproductive, and unhealthy obsession in modern society.

Gervais explained, "FOPO is essentially a predictive mechanism we use, a proactive process to be better accepted in the eyes of others and to avoid rejection. It is mainly characterized by excessive vigilance and social preparedness, and as a result, we end up scanning the world for approval."

What he is emphasizing is that more and more people are comparing themselves to others and seeking validation from the outside world. Social networking services (SNS), where people seek others' approval through 'likes' and comments, are an example of this phenomenon.

According to Gervais, there are several examples that can help you determine if you are experiencing FOPO. These include pretending to have seen movies or TV shows that others are discussing, laughing at jokes that are not funny, feeling anxious about taking too long to order at a cafe when there is a line behind you, and not wanting to leave work before your boss does.

Gervais stated, "To overcome FOPO, it is important to rewire the brain. Instead of wondering, 'What does that person think of me?', we should turn that mechanism inward and check whether it aligns with our own purpose." He added, "Questions like 'Am I staying true to my purpose?' and 'Am I being liked by someone?' will become new reference points."